My father rarely speaks about his past. The Land My Father Left Behind is an introspective exploration of what it means to be born from a mixed-race marriage and to visit my roots in Chile for the first time. Through this project, I explore three elements that I believe shape Chilean identity: historic memory, geography, and postcolonialism, with a particular focus on the Mapuche communities, one of the country’s Indigenous peoples. During my time there, I witnessed the far right gaining governmental power through democratic processes, a development that, in many conversations, revived memories of Pinochet’s dictatorship—received by some with deep pain and by others with approval.

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Although Chile is widely celebrated for its lush natural reserves, I was drawn to the stark beauty of the Atacama Desert—the driest place on Earth—its salty orange landscapes and geysers erupting before dawn. The openness and generosity of the people I met, especially members of the Mapuche community, shaped this project profoundly as they shared their cosmovision, their spiritual relationship with nature, and their ongoing struggle rooted in centuries of oppression. Photographing with empathy and respect, influenced by the documentary approaches of Sebastião Salgado and Cristina Rodero, this series reflects both the people I encountered and my own emotional journey. Aware of my position as a European photographing in Latin America, I approached this work with humility, hoping to offer a glimpse into what it feels like to encounter one’s roots for the first time.

     

                                                                                                                                    - Marina Solar